Lesson 8

AQA GCSE Media Studies

Unit 1 Investigating the MediaExam Topic: Promotion and Marketing of Video Games

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Lesson 8

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Starter

Where do the labels go?

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Storyboarding

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Shot number

Transition Close-up? Long shot?

Diegetic? Non-diegetic? Dialogue?

Music?

Detail of what is happening in the shotHow long is it?

Drawing of the shot

High key? Low key?

Starter

Low or high angle?

Purpose of Video-Game Trailers

• Capture your audience’s attention• Entertain your audience• Ensure your audience understands your game

WHY?

• To persuade the audience to buy your game!• To generate income for the game developer and publisher

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Format of Video-Game Trailers according to videopixie.com

• Announcement trailer: 'super short (~30 s), more cutscenes than gameplay, little text (launch date), minimal call to action (follow). Aims to get people excited without revealing too much.'

• Launch trailer: 'short (~60 s), more of the gameplay, positive reviews, strong call to action (buy/download). Aims to persuade viewers that they need to try the game “right now”.'

• DLC release trailer: 'long (>1 min), focus on gameplay and the new features, content of interest to fans (e.g. developer interviews). Aims to tell the fan base about new features that they can upgrade to.'

• https://www.videopixie.com/make-a-game-trailer

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Other Types of Trailer

Teaser trailer

Gameplay trailer

Official trailer

Developer’s trailer

TV spot trailer

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Disney Infinity

30-second TV spot trailer:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Wsof8llFxA

60-second TV spot trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBZTwjzAneU

Watch both the TV spot trailers – what are the differences?

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This is exactly what it says – the trailer has already been made – but can you storyboard it?

Storyboard the first 10 frames of the video-game trailer you have been working with.

Reverse Storyboarding

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Example : Heavy Rain TV trailer – 30 secs

http://youtu.be/4QYKkKKxJUQ

Reverse storyboard example showing nine frames follows – 11 secs

Reverse Storyboarding

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Shot #

Shot DescriptionPS3 logo and ident

ActionLogo appears with red swirl

Duration – 0.5 secs

Cut/Edit – fade into

Dialogue – None

Music – orchestral violins, dramatic

Noise/SFX – heavy rain and thunder

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10

Shot #

Shot descriptionWide shot focusing on PS3 console

ActionLogo has faded into a PS3 console shown in the location setting

Duration – 0.5 secs

Cut/Edit – fade

Dialogue – none

Music – orchestral violins, dramatic

Noise/SFX – heavy rain and thunder

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11

Shot #

Shot descriptionELS establishing shot

ActionSetting is shown

Duration – 1 sec

Cut/Edit – fade

Dialogue – voiceover narration 'Start'

Music – orchestral violins, dramatic

Noise/SFX – heavy rain and thunder

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Shot #

Shot descriptionLong shot – camera on dolly in reverse

ActionFeatures a figure of a man which

repeats,following him

Duration – 1 sec

Cut/Edit – fade

Dialogue – voiceover narration 'Start a journey which changes'

Music – orchestral violins, dramatic

Noise/SFX – heavy rain and thunder

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Shot #

Shot descriptionLong shot – camera on dolly in reverse

ActionThe figures of men split into different

directions

Duration – 2 secs

Cut/Edit – fade

Dialogue – voiceover narration 'with every single decision.'

Music – orchestral violins, dramatic, getting louder, choral voices added

Noise/SFX – heavy rain and thunder

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Shot #

Shot descriptionLong shot – camera on dolly in reverse

ActionThe figures of men split into different directions

Duration – 1 sec

Cut/Edit – fade

Dialogue – voiceover narration 'Start searching...'

Music – orchestral violins, dramatic, getting louder, choral voices added

Noise/SFX – heavy rain and thunder

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15

Shot #

Shot descriptionLong shot

ActionWe see the main character by himself ‘searching’

Duration – 1 sec

Cut/Edit – fade

Dialogue – voiceover narration 'for a son...'

Music – orchestral violins, dramatic, getting louder and louder, choral voices added

Noise/SFX – heavy rain and thunder

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16

Shot #

Shot descriptionMid shot

ActionWe see the main character by himself walking

Duration – 2 secs

Cut/Edit – fade

Dialogue – voiceover narration 'and being hunted...'

Music – orchestral violins, dramatic, getting louder and louder, choral voices added

Noise/SFX – heavy rain and thunder

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Shot #

Shot descriptionTwo shot

ActionTwo characters fighting

Duration – 2 secs

Cut/Edit – fade

Dialogue – voiceover narration 'by a killer...'

Music – orchestral violins, dramatic, getting louder and louder, choral voices added

Noise/SFX – heavy rain and thunder

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18

Creating a Structure for your Video-Game Trailer

Beginning – set-up – what the game is about

Middle – set-up leads to rising action – suggest the exciting bits

End – conclusion – what you have to do to complete the game

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Storyboard your Own ‘New’ Video Game

1. Decide whether you are designing an announcement trailer or a launch trailer. Both are 30 seconds.

2. Plan your structure.

3. Then storyboard the first 10 frames of your trailer.

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Plenary

Peer assess the storyboard of the person sitting next to you.

Have they included all the necessary elements?

Is there a structure?

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Homework

Complete your storyboard to make sure you have 30 seconds for your trailer.

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